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Yesterday I had an appearance in San Jose and then another up in San Rafael. From San Jose I drove up through San Francisco, northbound over the Golden Gate Bridge, to my appearance, then back over to Contra Costa County via the Richmond Bridge.1

Wait for it…

The Golden Gate is only toll southbound and the Richmond is only toll westbound. I traveled over two bridges and didn’t pay a single toll!

Yes, yes, I know we’re supposed to have a new schedule per 8 CCR 9805, but the proposed draft 2009 PDRS was never approved.

Overall, the draft 2009 Permanent Disability Schedule doesn’t change much from the existing 2005 schedule. The biggest change is in the application of the FEC rank adjustment. Instead of increasing permanent disability between 10% and 40%, the proposed FEC rank system would increase permanent disability between 20% and 50%. Additionally, the proposal suggested juggling the various ranks among the body regions. If you’re curious about the exact proposed changes, the DWC Newsline gave a really great overview back on May 9, 2008.

Apparently the defense attorney on Bowden v Sunray Termite wrote ex parte to the WCAB requesting the case be declared a significant panel decision. 1

Commissioner Miller’s letter (download below) notes Bowden was a “purely fact driven case” and “is not to be a statement of legal importance to the community.” Commissioner Miller further points out Significant Panel decisions are citable panel decisions but not binding legal precedent. 2